Parish Life
Potomac Country House Tour
[Note: This page describes a past event: the 2008 Potomac Country House Tour. Homes were open to ticket holders on October 4th and 5th from noon to 5:00 pm.]
To benefit the Outreach Programs of St. Francis Church. All proceeds from the Potomac Country House Tour are donated to St. Francis' outreach partners, and on their behalf we are grateful for your support and that of the homeowners and volunteers. Over forty ministries, including the following, benefit from House Tour: CASA (Court Approved Special Advocates for Children); Episcopal Senior Ministries; Families Foremost Center; MOMS (Mothers Offering Maternal Support); Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless; SOME (So Others May Eat); St. Anne's Infant and Maternity Home; The Children's Inn at NIH; The Family Place; Ivymount School; WUMCO (Western Upper Montgomery County Helps); Cathedral Choral Society Partner Schools Program, Washington National Cathedral; Interfaith Works, including Community Based Shelter; The Church Army; The Dwelling Place; The Episcopal Center for Children; The Fishing School; Five Talents International; For Love of Children (FLOC); Good News Jail and Prison Ministry; Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County; Hearts and Homes for Youth; Manna Food Center; Martha's Table; Montgomery Hospice Society; St. Stephen's of the Incarnation Loaves and Fishes Program; Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington; The Shepherd's Table; Stepping Stones Shelter; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
Tickets: $25; Advance Tickets: $20; Groups of 15 or more: $17/person. Tickets may be purchased at St. Francis Episcopal Church, or at the these outlets: Stephanie's Secret Garden (19900 Fisher Ave, Poolesville, MD 301-349-4050); Kae Robin Gifts (Bradley Shopping Center 6910 Arlington Road 301-654-2618); Pierre Deux (10305 Old Georgetown Road 301-564-9200); Kellogg Collection (10241 Old Georgetown Road 301-897-9102); Country Squire Cleaners (9919 Falls Road 301-299-9675); Ferrell's Specialty Gift Shop (Potomac Promenade Center 9812 Falls Road 301-299-3183); Flora's Feathered Nest (12211 River Road 301-765-0003); The Good Earth (11650 Falls Road 301-765-0224); The Surrey Gift Shop (10107 River Road 301-299-8225) The Lemondrop LemonTwist (8534 Connecticut Avenue 301-656-1357); The Wine Harvest (114 Market Street Kentlands 301-869-4008); Ladies Workout Express (Traville Village Center 9743 Traville Gateway Drive 301-762-0600); Kentlands Flowers Bows (206 Market Street East 301-330-7720); Rockville Interiors (#4 West Middle Lane 301-424-1900); Potomac Garden Center (12024 Darnestown Road 301-948-8890)
French Manor House
Susan and Gary Farha’s
English Manor home reflects elegance and sophistication.
Builder Brendan O’Neill situated this home to capture
curbside appeal with a beautifully landscaped lane and striking steep slated
roofline. Years of collaboration
between Susan and her decorator Linda Steimke radiate the versatility and
talent in the selection of in-laid furniture, jewel toned fabrics, and
detailed craftsmanship. Formality
through period furnishings, bold wall colors, and tastefully selected accents
make each room noteworthy. Avid collectors will admire the quality and elegant
lines of these discriminating furnishings. Tour goers will immediately notice the gracious room sizes creating easy
flow for entertaining. Seven fireplaces each with unique mantels are found throughout the house
including the library, music room, dining room, and gourmet kitchen. Functionality is captured by kitchen designer Galen Harley in this gourmet
European style kitchen. Susan’s kitchen was featured in the Spring issue of Washington Home and Garden. The lower level welcomes guests of all ages for movies, round of pool,
or even an evening of dancing. Another surprise for car buffs is a spotless garage housing a 1957 pink
Thunderbird, 1932 Ford Roaster, Chevelle muscle car, and a 1967 Corvette.
Poolesville Country Estate
14420 Sugarland Lane was a custom project for Bell Builder’s most discerning client to date, company owner Frank Bell. Nearly every detail of the home reflects 35 years of design experience and building expertise. Pulling design elements from Maryland’s grand old country estates and farm homes, the exterior of home appropriately reflects its rural Poolesville surroundings while incorporating the clean, traditional architecture for which Bell Builders is so frequently associated. Sited on 8.8 acres the 5,600 square foot home shares the property with a detached three-car garage as well as a one-room bungalow that had occupied the land since the turn-of-the-century and was meticulously restored. The striking interior design of the main residence offers a variety in moldings, millwork, cabinetry, and masonry, including custom coffered and treyed ceilings, rustic walnut floors, and faux painting. In the kitchen lavish granite and concrete countertops and cutting edge commercial grade kitchen appliances provide opportunities for frequent entertaining and large family gatherings. The house is also wired for the latest in home/office communication and entertainment and features custom Lutron lighting system which controls the interior and exterior of the home through a central operating system. The home’s cutting edge heating system, which utilizing the latest in geo-thermal technology, maximizes its energy saving potential. Through functionality and aesthetic detail are evident throughout, it’s the home’s undeniably welcoming and fluid floor-plan that is among most obvious advantages. Truly a Bell-built home in every facet and winner of the 2008 Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association’s Gold Award for Best Traditional Custom Home. Sugarland Lane shines as a nod to both traditional elegance and an old country charm and comfort.
Potomac River View
Facing the tow path and the Potomac River tour goers approach the beautiful, scenic home of nature enthusiasts, Chris and Jim Cockrell. Architect Jim Rill and builder Guy Semmes have blended nature and simplicity of the Potomac horse country with this unique setting. The exposed wood beamed ceilings and the surrounding windows play on the diagonal curved lines of these intersecting floor plans. The harmonious mission style furnishings and the panoramic views enhance the warmth of the Cockrell home.
Family collections are the must see on the tour. The naming of Cockrell Bay in 1680 off Reedville, Virginia, identifies their family’s early roots in the Chesapeake Bay. John Hancock’s signature appears on framed family deeds from Massachusetts. Even the Gold Rush days are featured through a handmade scale for weighing gold. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal art frame the open and inviting entrance to the home.
A centralized kitchen becomes a gathering spot for entertaining with adjacent formal dining area and den. Tree top views are obtained by walking along the spacious decks on the main floor. Upstairs a cascade of light greets tour goers framing a wonderful artist’s studio. The house’s lower level easily accesses the outside for this family’s active life style.
Roundhill Mansion
Approaching the spacious portico and circular drive your sense of space and scale cannot imagine what spectacular views await your visit to a 28,000 square foot mansion. Built in 2002 taking four years to complete, the current owner has redecorated the entire space within the year. As you enter the two story reception area your eye travels through the grand scale of this room past the sculpted niches and grand mahogany bar to the outside terrace. You will marvel at the size of a spectacular circular staircase which wraps around an eleven foot baccarate crystal chandelier. With these high ceiling rooms, interior designer Cindi LaPietra needed to invent a harmonious scale by installing over sized custom made Marge Carson furniture in all of the rooms therefore gaining a sense of perfect proportions. The master bedroom suite could capably double as an apartment as three rooms radiate around the bedroom including a solarium, sitting area, and kitchen.
Balancing the Venetian formality and aesthetic appeal of a variety of marble and granite finishes on the first floor, the basement recreation area takes you in the opposite direction to the tropics with an exotic tropical theme, mixture of fabrics, and accents of chocolate, lime, blue, and leopard colors.
Each room is complimented by an ornate fireplace featuring classic Greek or Roman marble statuary. The custom designed window treatments and wall colors fashion understated elegance and add warmth to these expansive spaces. Dedicate an hour of the tour to adequately view this home.